C-section? Or broken tail bone? Which would you choose?

[Anonymous]

any update on your decision? I am going through the exact same situation right now. I broke my tailbone during first and second vaginal deliveries. Considering c-section for third. Just looking for advice or similar experiences.

[Anonymous]

C-section, no question.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to everyone who replied to this thread. I'm opting for the C-section. I tried to keep an open mind until very late in this pregnancy... thinking that MAYBE, if I went into labor early, and if the baby were measuring really small (both very unlikely given my history) that I MIGHT try to do it vaginally. I got a 36 week sonogram because I actually haven't gained as much weight as usual, and I feel "small" by comparison to my other two. I know the sonograms are notoriously inaccurate, but this baby was measuring close to 7 pounds at 36 weeks, and had a larger than average head (very consistent with my other two kids with giant noggins). That kind of sealed the deal for me. I'm scheduled for mid-August... so if you can wait that long (and I remember to post), I will be happy to tell you what I think of my decision post-baby.

One thing that I think differs,... it appears that some people who break their tailbone must not break it as badly as I have broken mine... and have more of a modest 5-6 week recovery. For me, both times, it has been excruciatingly painful for about a month, followed by 2-3 more months of significant discomfort. I couldn't sit straight for close to 4 months. By comparison, a few weeks of feeling bad from a C-section sounds like cake.

So, ultimately, I think its an individual decision. But I'll be happy to post my personal experience when its all over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to everyone who replied to this thread. I'm opting for the C-section. I tried to keep an open mind until very late in this pregnancy... thinking that MAYBE, if I went into labor early, and if the baby were measuring really small (both very unlikely given my history) that I MIGHT try to do it vaginally. I got a 36 week sonogram because I actually haven't gained as much weight as usual, and I feel "small" by comparison to my other two. I know the sonograms are notoriously inaccurate, but this baby was measuring close to 7 pounds at 36 weeks, and had a larger than average head (very consistent with my other two kids with giant noggins). That kind of sealed the deal for me. I'm scheduled for mid-August... so if you can wait that long (and I remember to post), I will be happy to tell you what I think of my decision post-baby.

One thing that I think differs,... it appears that some people who break their tailbone must not break it as badly as I have broken mine... and have more of a modest 5-6 week recovery. For me, both times, it has been excruciatingly painful for about a month, followed by 2-3 more months of significant discomfort. I couldn't sit straight for close to 4 months. By comparison, a few weeks of feeling bad from a C-section sounds like cake.

So, ultimately, I think its an individual decision. But I'll be happy to post my personal experience when its all over.

Congratulations. breaking the coxyx is an injury unto itself. . . orthopedics and possible steroids, PT, extreme constipation and mobility issues for months, possible heavy duty painkillers. Whole other medical specialty.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP,

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread. I broke my tailbone with my natural (midwife-assisted) birth 4 months ago, and I still can't sit without my doughnut. It has me thinking hard about a c/s for #2. I, too, am generally disgruntled with the medical community and the lack of good options surrounding this issue (as well as many other female medical issues. Don't get me started on hormonal birth control).

Good luck with your birth!

[Anonymous]

Broke my tailbone in 2006 and it still hurts. I thought that not being able to sit for months was just part of normal recovery from a vag delivery of a large baby, until I talked to my doctor much later down the line and he explained the tailbone thing.

Despite still feeling it 4 years later, I am expecting baby #3 now and I will still go for vaginal delivery.

[Anonymous]

It is called the "Coccyx' bone and generally breaks when baby is very large. Happened to a friends of mine whose son had a birth weight of almost 13 lbs. This is a no brainer--go for c-section. Broken brones take longer to heal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is called the "Coccyx' bone and generally breaks when baby is very large. Happened to a friends of mine whose son had a birth weight of almost 13 lbs. This is a no brainer--go for c-section. Broken brones take longer to heal.

Thanks, you're a real scholar.

Broken bones may take longer to heal, but c-sections have more significant risks. "No brainer" - was that you referring to yourself?

[Anonymous]

I broke my tail bone with #1 and the pain lasted 5 months. I just had #2 who was 12 oz larger than #1. The OB repositioned the baby's head while I was pushing. I avoided breaking my tail bone this time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is called the "Coccyx' bone and generally breaks when baby is very large. Happened to a friends of mine whose son had a birth weight of almost 13 lbs. This is a no brainer--go for c-section. Broken brones take longer to heal.

Thanks, you're a real scholar.

Broken bones may take longer to heal, but c-sections have more significant risks. "No brainer" - was that you referring to yourself?

Ah the asshole who gives us her pithy comments on every thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is called the "Coccyx' bone and generally breaks when baby is very large. Happened to a friends of mine whose son had a birth weight of almost 13 lbs. This is a no brainer--go for c-section. Broken brones take longer to heal.

Broken bones may take longer to heal, but c-sections have more significant risks.

I, too, broke my tailbone delivering my first baby, which still ended up in a c-section after 2.5 hours of pushing. It still hurts me today. TEN YEARS LATER. No kidding. That's a risk I would avoid no matter what. I was in excruciating pain for the first year. I could hardly sit and it made taking care of my baby very difficult. Getting up from sitting would bring me to tears each time. It was that awful. My son is about to turn 10 and I still cannot sit on a hard surface for very long without terrible pain when I go to stand up.

I went on to have two more children. I considered VBAC with my second until my OB told me that it was likely that I would re-break my tailbone and at that moment, without hesitation, I scheduled a c-section. I would tell anyone to do the same, and if you had it happen to you, you would, too.

[Anonymous]

Wow, this is so much more common than I realized. I also broke my tailbone with my first child (and contrary to what the above PP said, my DC was small, under 7 lbs). I think it just depends on how you're built. I'm currently pg w/#2 and terrified of having this happen again. I didn't know it could until I saw this thread. When I asked my orthopedist about it he said I probably wouldn't have the same problem again as everything was already "stretched out" . I hope he's right...

[Anonymous]

I broke mine with my first (good sized baby, 98% head, etc...) and I was in misery for the first year and still hurting until I delivered my next child. It broke again as I pushed baby#2 out, but whatever happened my tailbone was repositioned better, so after it healed (took a few months) things were much better.

FWIW, I never tell pregnant women about this delightful complication of childbirth. I agree with 14:06, it probably is a lot more common than most of us let on. Nothing like hearing that "snap" as you're pushing. Ick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is called the "Coccyx' bone and generally breaks when baby is very large. Happened to a friends of mine whose son had a birth weight of almost 13 lbs. This is a no brainer--go for c-section. Broken brones take longer to heal.

I think this is terribly misleading.

True, frequently the "cause" of the break is that the baby is too big for the space... but my kids were both in the 8 pound range, and I think that is not uncommon. I now know several people who have done this (although I agree it is still rare)... but none of us had 13 pound (or even 9 pound) babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Push your baby out while you are on your hands and knees. There is much less pressure on the sacrum and tail bone in this position, and much lower likelihood that it will dislocate. If your doctor does not know how to deliver a baby this way, perhaps you could find a hospital-based midwife to help you out. Also, "breathing" the baby out is far more effective than forcefully bearing down as the baby is crowning. Of course we have no idea how your last two deliveries worked out, but if they were not like this, then perhaps you still have something new you could try.

I would do the vaginal birth because it is better for the baby. Baby's born by c/s statistically have a tougher time breathing and have a greater chance of asthma as they get older. Or, if you decide you want a c/s, wait until you spontaneously start labor so your baby at least has the benefit of labor hormones, and then go in to get the c/s.

BABIES BORN BY C-SECTION DO NOT HAVE A GREATER RISK OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA, GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.

TO THE OP: my c section was super easy to recover from. i felt great in 10 days and was doing ab crunches (gentle ones) at 6weeks. baby was breech and could not be turned. it was not my choice or my desire, but was the safest way to go. and her health came above my desires.